Developer



Feb. 22, 1944. R. H. FULLERTON DEVELOPER Filed Aug. 26, 1940 2 Shee'ts-Sheet l 2;. EV' gvmm @www Patented Feb. 22, 1944 DEVELOPER.

Robert H. Fullerton, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to International Photo Copy Inc., St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application August 26, 1940, Serial No. 354,190

2 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in developers wherein it is desired to provide a developer for a photostatic copy machine or the like, through which the sensitized paper may pass for development purposes without the necessity of handling the paper during this process.

In photostatic copy machines it is common practice to pass the sensitized paper after exposing the same, into a developing tank for sutilcient time to permit the developing process to be accomplished. As the procedure must take place without further exposing the sensitized paper, it is essential that the developer be secured in the path of the paper as it leaves exposing position, and it is also essential that the sensitized sheet be maintained in darkness until the developing process has been completed. Accordingly, some means must be provided for moving the paper through the developing tank so that the paper may be urged through the tank and properly developed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a developer which is designed to receive a sheet of paper and which includes a means for guiding the paper from the inlet of the developer to the outlet of the same. The path followed by the sensitized paper is preferably a curved path so that the developer requires a minimum of. space. If the developer were formed in an elongated box or container, the

construction of the vsensitized paper moving means would be greatly simplified, but in a device of this type where the machine in which the developer is used is preferably of the portable type, space is valuable and a curved path for the paper to follow is decidedly preferable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a developer in which the paper is guided through a path around a curve and to provide a means of propelling the paper around this curved path. The paper travels easily along the portion of the path which is straight and the propelling means is so devised as to guide the paper over the portion of its path which would normally be diiiicult for the paper to follow.

It is a feature lof my invention to provide a developer having a guide track arrangement extending from the inlet to the outlet of the developer. This guide track is formed of two spaced guide elements between which the sensitized paper may pass. My developer is so arranged that one of these sets of tracks is mounted upon a removable section of the developer container. Thus if by any chance paper should become caught within the developer this paper can be easily removed by withdrawing from the developer the removable section of the container bearing one set of tracks. When this is done, the paper may be merely picked out of the developing solution by hand and it is not necessary to attempt to maintain the paper between the tracks until it is removed. It will be understood that should the paper become caught within the developer the paper usually becomes folded or crumpled and in such a condition could noteasily be forced to the outlet between the tracks.

It is a feature of my invention that the operating mechanism for propelling the paper through the developer tank is mounted upon the removable section of the developer container and is removable with this removable section. Thus when the removable section is separated from the remainder of the developer, all of the operating mechanism of the developer is exposed and may be adjusted or repaired without difficulty should such adjustment or repair be found necessary.

It is a further feature of my invention to provide a means for propelling the paper through the developer which will engage the paper to move the same in one direction, but which is so constructed that movement in one direction vonly is permitted. This construction is such that while theV paper may be reciprocated slightly when in developing position, it cannot be forced back out through the inlet and once in the developer must pass through the outlet.

Thes'e and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specication:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a photostat machine, embodying my developer.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic section through the developer and through a portion of the photostat machine, illustrating the manner in which the developer receives the sensitized paper from the supply roll after passing through exposure position. y

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the developer removed from the photostat machine.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the developer.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section en the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a transverse section through the developer. the position of the section being indicated by the lines 8-6 of Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 'l is a side view of the developer, illustrating the removable section partially removed therefrom.

Figure 8 is a perspective detail showingI the ratchet mechanism for preventingA rotation of the film moving apparatus in one direction.

'I'he photostat machine A is of the portable type employing a central fixed section i0, a longitudinally adjustable focal plane unit and a bellows |2 supported by the fixed section Illiand the focal plane unit A lens I3 is mounted upon the front |4 of the bellows i2 and this lens directs light from a copy holding board |5 into .the interior of the machine when the shuttery is opened. Lights |6 provide illumination for material on the copy holder board I5.

The developer box B is mounted beneath the focal plane unit and is adjustable therewith in order to maintain cooperable relationship with the paper which is supplied by the paper supply roll in the compartment I1 at the upper extremity of the focal plane unit. As best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, the sensitized paper I9 is fed from the supply roll 20 within the paper compartment |1 between the clear glass p1ate.2| and the ground glass plate 22, or between two transparent elements 2| and 22 and is fed by the feed rollers 23 downwardly from exposure position between the plates 2| and 22. A paper cut,- ting means not specically illustrated in the .drawings, is provided adjacent therollers 23 to cut H. the paper from the supply roll 20' so that a section of paper may be developed at a time. The feed rollers 23 are operated by the hand controlled knob 24 or other suitable means and feed through a receiving slot 25 forming the inlet to the developer tank B.

The developer tank B is provided with a bot- -tom 26, end walls 21 and 29, and side Walls 30. A closed top 3| is secured between the side walls 30 and the end wall 29 and partially encloses the top of the container. The remainder of the top of the container is enclosed by a top enclosing wall 32 which is equipped with side flanges 33 which extend down within the side walls 30 and are received in channels 34 formed by plates 35. A sealing gasket 36, illustrated in Figure of the drawings, extends between an edge of the top enclosing wall 32-and an off-set channel 31 formed along the edge of the -top 3|. An angular closure 39 is pivoted at 40 to the top closure wall 32 and this angular closure 39 extends over the outlet slot 4| in the end wall 21 of the developer B.

` Thus when the slot is in close proximity -to the rollers 23 and is sealed from light, no light can enter the developer when the angular closure 39 is closed.

Secured within the developer body, I provide a series of spaced outer track member 42. These outer track members 42 are provided with an upwardly curved end 43 which is positioned adjacent Ithe inlet slot 25 and a horizontally extending section 43' which is secured to a bracket 44 which in turn is supported by the top 3| through the bolts 45. The tracks 42 are then bent through approximately a 180 turn 46 and are'provided with a horizontally extending portion 41 extending substantially parallel to the bottom 26 ofthe developer. The ends of the tracks 42 extend upwardly at 49 to a point which is below the outlet slot 4|. The forward ends of the tracks 42 are supported by brackets 59 which are secured to the end wall 21. of the developer. Thus the tracks 42 are secured in fixed relation within the developer and extend from the inlet 25 to the outlet slot 4|. Y

A pair of side partition plates 5| and 52 are secured by the bolts 53 to the removable top wall 32. A series of horizontally extending rods 54 connect the partition walls 5| and 62 and form a support for tracks 55 which extend in spaced relation to the tracks 42. The tracks 55 are bent similarly to the tracks 42 and are in spaced relation thereto being held in fixed position by the rods 54 suprrted by the partition plates 5| and 52. These t acks 55, as best illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings, are in staggered relation with the tracks 42 so that the lm propelling means extend between the tracks 55 and engage the lm, pressing the same against the outer tracks 42 and drawing the lm longitudinally of the tracks.

At the center of curvature of the portions 46 of the tracks 42 I provide a transverselyxtending shaft 56 which extends between and is supported by the partition plates 5| and 52. Upon one end of the shaft 56 I provide a sprocket 51 engageable with a chain 59 by means of which the shaft 56 may be rotated. The chain 59 extends over a sprocket 69 on a drive shaft 6| which extends through a slot 62 in the side wall 30 of the developer. This shaft 6| is equipped with a key or. pin 63 by means of which a crank handle such as 68 may be engaged to rotate the shaft 6I.

Upon the shaft 56, I provide a pair of arms 64 secured adjacent the partition walls 5| and 52. Between these arms 64 I provide a pair of clamping plates 65 and 66 between `which may be clamped a series of resilient paddles |51.` The paddles 51 are of proper width to fit readily between the tracks or rods 55 and to clamp a lm sheet against the tracks or rods 42. Thus in the rotation of the shaft 56 in a clockwisedirection, the paddles 61 are moved between the tracks 55 and against a sheet of sensitized paper or film. between gie tracks 55 and 42, clamping the paper against t e tracks 42. As th coeicient of fn'ction between the paddles 61 and the lm sheet pivoted out fromin front of the outlet slot 4|.

and the lm sheet may be propelled out through this outlet slot.

A means is provided for preventing rotation of the shaft 56 more than one revolution in a counterclockwise direction. This means comprises a spring arm 69 which is secured for rotation with the shaft 56. This spring arm is provided with an inturned end 10 which engages against the partition plate 5|. The partition plate 5| is provided with a slot 1I therein provided with an ear 12 which is integral with the upper end of the slot and which is bent inwardly from the partition plate 5 When the shaft 56 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the spring end 10 drops into the slot 1| and is sprung outwardly by the slope of the ear 12. However, when the shaft 56is rotated in a counterclockwise direction the end 19 of the spring arm 69 engages against the bottom of the slot 1| which acts as a shoulder to prevent further counterclockwise rotation.

When the developer is assembled the removable top wall section 32 together with the partition walls 5| and 52, the tracks 55 and the film propelling mechanism is removably secured with respect to the reminder of the developer. This removable top wall section 32 is normally held in place by thumb screws 13 which normally hold this section in its proper position. The thumb screws 'I3 are threaded to the top wall section 32 of the developer, and extend through slots 14 in the side walls 3B. By screwing inwardly the thumb screws 13, the heads of these screws may be clamped against the side Walls 30, holding the top wall section in its proper position. When it is desired to clean the developer tank or when a sheet of paper becomes wedged between the track 42 and 55, it is possible to quickly remove the wedged sheet of fllm by lifting the top wall section 32 together with the inner track assembly and the paper propelling mechanism out of the developer tank. When this inner track assembly has been removed, the paper may be easily grasped by the hand of the operator. As the paper propelling mechanism is all contained on the removable section; easy access may be afforded to this film moving mechanism when it is desired.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principles of construction and operation of my developer and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that these are only illustrative of a means of carrying out my invention and that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A film developer comprising a container having an opening in the top thereof at one end thereof, a closure therefor, said closure having an inlet therein, an outlet formed in the end of the container adjacent the opening in the top thereof, a pair of parallelsupports secured to said closure and extending through said opening into said container, a first track means secured to said supports, a second track means secured to said casing in spaced relationship to said first track means, each of said track means extending from said inlet parallel to the top of the container to the other end of said container, reversing at an degree angle at said other end, returning adjacent the bottom wall of said container and thence extending upwardly through said outlet, a shaft" mounted between said supports, a series of finger means on said shaft extendable through said first track means to engage a film betweensaid track means, a drive shaft mounted on said parallel supports parallel to said first named shaft, and means connecting said shafts to drive the same in unison. said shafts, connecting means, parallel supports and first track means removable through said opening when said closure is removed. i

2. A film developer, comprising a casing having a top extending over an end portion thereof, a removable closure closing the remainder of the top of said casing at the other end, an inlet in said closure, an outlet adjacent said closure, a series of curved tracks secured to said closure, a second series of curved tracks in spaced relation to said ilrst-named tracks secured` to said casing, said first and second-named series of tracks providing a curved path from said inlet to the opposite end of the container, and back again to said outlet,

and a series of finger means extending through,

said first-named track means adapted to engage a nlm between said track meansY when the film is passed around the curved path.

ROBERT H. FULLERTON. 

